GREGYNOG PRESS. ~ The Autobiography of Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury.
No. 24 of 25 special copies, from a total edition of 300. Wood engraved shield ornament coloured in blue, grey and red on title page, 9 wood engravings by H.W. Bray, several initials printed in red. Printed in Poliphilus and Blado italic on Batchelor handmade paper. Folio, specially bound by George Fisher at the Gregynog Bindery (signed on lower turn-in) in full brown polished levant, upper cover with Herbert arms blocked in palladian on onlaid blue and red morocco outlined with a heavy gilt border, spine lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, others uncut, housed in the original card slipcase with printed paper spine label (a little marked and rubbed). With very mild fading to spine and a small mark to headcap, otherwise an remarkably good copy.
Reviews of this book were lyrical when it was published in 1928. Maynard’s typography is outstanding and looks particularly good on the luxurious Batchelor handmade paper. It was with this book that Gregynog began to shine as a fine press of great importance. Harrop wrote: “The large initial openings, printed in red, are a tour de force. The title-page which is one of classical simplicity...alone is a work of art...a triumph”.
Brother of the poet George Herbert, Edward 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury was an English soldier, diplomat, and a writer of poems, histories, and religio-philosophical works.